About IWSAW

Established in 1973, the Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World is committed to pioneering academic research on women in the Arab world. The institute also seeks to empower women through development programs and education, and to serve as a catalyst for policy change regarding women’s rights in the region.

An active and highly esteemed institute, IWSAW facilitates networking and communication, while cultivating ties with national, regional, and international organizations and universities concerned with women’s and gender issues.

IWSAW has established a master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Gender Studies. The first of its kind in Lebanon, this graduate program aims to generate a cadre of young, dynamic, qualified researchers in the field.

Al-Raida, IWSAW’s flagship interdisciplinary journal, has addressed gender in historical and contemporary contexts since 1976. The publication strives to bridge the conventional divide between scholarship and activism. Al-Raida has recently evolved into a biannual, double-blind, peer-reviewed journal.